KMRL floats tenders for boats for water Metro

Tender is for designing and building passenger boats as part of Rs 747-crore Kochi Water Metro project.

Kochi Metro Rail Limited

Kochi: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has floated pre-qualification tender for designing and building passenger boats as part of Rs 747-crore Kochi Water Metro project in line with its target to start the boat operations by May next year.

“In the initial phase, we'll roll out a total of 36 boats with can carry 100 passenger and four crew members. The delivery date of boats will be decided only after design finalization. The boats will ply at a speed of eight knots," said a senior metro official.

The remaining boats will be pressed into service in a phased manner. We are aiming to roll out a total of 76 boats in the Greater Kochi area by 2020, the official said.

As per the Request for Quotation (RFQ), the boats will be operated using the motor propulsion system and should be capable of being operated from battery.

The fuel tank capacity should be designed as to facilitate two days of pure diesel operation.

The boats shall be catamaran type, each with twin hulls connected by a single deck so as to carry 100 passengers and provision for two wheelchairs.

"We're giving high priority for safety and hence included the condition that the boats shall be designed as per the IRS (Indian Register of Shipping) specified standards," the official said.

The last date for online submission of bids is on June 29.

The ambitious project envisages operation of 76 modern vessels in 16 identified routes connecting 10 island communities across a 76-km route network. Eighteen major jetties and 20 minor jetties will be developed for the water-transit services which will connect destinations like Mulavukad, Koronkotta, Thanthonnithuruthu, Ponnarimangalam, Thevara, Kumbalam and Nettoor among others.